Himlung Himal Expedition

Kathmandu and trekking

 In a 3/4* category hotel in Kathmandu.

During the trek, we will be either in an individual tent or in a lodge. The lodges in Nepal are of very random comfort. The lodges can look like a refuge or sometimes a cottage from home. It is mostly a family house with double, triple, or dormitory rooms. Toilets and showers are always separate.

Base camp
At the base camp, we are in individual tents.

Staying in the base for several weeks must be as comfortable as possible, in order to allow a good recovery on the return from the altitude camps. It must allow us to face a period of bad weather in the best possible conditions. Each participant has their own individual tent with a comfortable mattress. A heated mess tent is the main living area. Tables and chairs are permanently installed there. We also have a shower tent and a WC tent (the solid waste in evacuated drums)

High camps
During the ascent, at the high camps, we have an altitude tent for 2 people or even 3 people on the last camps.

Hygiene & Laundry

Toilets: The base camp is equipped with toilets (cans removed and emptied in a suitable place far from the glacier) and toilet paper. Take care to wash your hands with a hydro-alcoholic gel (to be taken from your personal pharmacy) after each visit to the toilet. For the higher camps, we recommend that you bring a bottle that you will use to urinate at night to avoid having to go out.

Daily hygiene: a basin with soap and water is available at the entrance to the mess tent. Water is intended for washing the face and hands, do not drink it.

Shower: hot water available (request to be made in the kitchen). Only take showers in sunny weather to avoid catching a cold!

Laundry: water (cold) and basin to be requested from the kitchen, bring biodegradable products only.

MEAL

Kathmandu and trekking
Upon your arrival in Kathmandu, a welcome dinner is offered to you on the first evening. Likewise, upon returning from the expedition, a farewell meal is provided.

In the cities, many small (or large) restaurants allow us to discover the typical local cuisine. With the exception of Kathmandu, breakfasts and evening meals are prepared by the lodge’s kitchen staff or cooks and taken in the lodge’s dining room or in the mess tent. Depending on the profile of the stages (length of the day’s walk and/or presence of water), midday snacks will be served hot or cold in the form of picnics.

Base camp
All meals are prepared by the kitchen team using local ingredients including rice, pasta, lentils, potatoes, vegetables, eggs, a little meat, etc. They are served to you in a private tent. Non-alcoholic hot drinks such as tea or coffee are offered to you at will. We recommend that you stay hydrated at all times.

High camps
At altitude, you often have to force yourself to eat. The use of freeze-dried food is almost unavoidable. But such and such a dish, appetizing in the valley, quickly becomes subject to disgust in the altitude camps. During the preparation weekend, we bring a sample of freeze-dried dishes for you to taste to indicate your preferences which we strive to respect (depending on the stocks available during the final purchases). You can also bring along some of your favorite meals on the expedition (if you have any). For your comfort and the pleasure of taste, we provide some “delicacies”  (salty and sweet).

Each tent has a stove to melt snow (MSR Reactor type) and make water for your freeze-dried meals and hot drinks. The necessary gas cartridges are supplied.

WATER: provide tablets (Hyclonazone, Micropur, or others) to disinfect the water you put in your water bottle, depending on the source and on the advice of your guide. It is sometimes possible to buy purified water and refill your water bottle without having to buy bottled water. You can also buy “mineral” water in the cities (not included in the price), but its ecological balance is poor, as you know. Also, we do not recommend it.